The Other Spot

A city that emerges from the sands of the desert, lit by the light of dawn, and that makes the visitor feel immersed in any of the Eastern tale Arabian Nights. That show, which seems almost magical, the first thing a traveler sees when he comes to the Indian city of Jaisalmer, one of the most beautiful in the whole country. Suddenly, the discomforts of transport, waiting at train stations, travel times, the crowd of “hunters” of tourists in search of commissions from the hotels … have been worthwhile.

No one can say that Jaisalmer is located in a place too accessible. A few kilometers from the border with Pakistan in the desert, the traveler who wants to contemplate deviate from any of the traditional tourist routes that often cross the country and focus on Agra.

The history of Jaisalmer is the same as the strengths of many cities that dot the deserts of central Asia or the Sahara. Its strategic position on trade routes gave him great wealth. This made the merchants and citizens reared by magnificent houses and mansions, all beautifully made of wood and gold-colored limestone. Jaisalmer faded when the routes through the desert were replaced by the sea, making it unnecessary to pass through the city. This and the lack of water seemed to mark the end, fearing he would be depopulated.

Later tourism began to discover the wonders of this city and now is definitely contributing to its revival, to the point that in recent years the number of hotels or cafes has grown dramatically.

Undoubtedly, the most attractive of the city is its strong habitation. This fort is built with the same golden color of the sand, offering at certain times, especially when the evening, an aspect of oriental tale. Built in 1156 as a defense against the peoples who inhabited the desert, the inhabitants of Jaisalmer presume that is the only inhabited world strong. Whether true or not, the fact is that inside lives a quarter of the population of the old and full of life throughout the day.

The best way to enjoy it is to walk with all the tranquility you can, no hurry. Every street hides a different, surprising wealth with which they adorned the other hand, modest homes. In the most central areas are not allowed to use cars or motorbikes and goods are carried by camels. These, along with cows, form part of the landscape but in truth, the cleaning system is more efficient than in other Indian cities.

Inside the fort you can visit three Jain temples, a religion with many adherents in the area. They are temples that are still used, so that should enter them with due respect. Similarly, the five interconnected palaces found in the fort, are an essential show for the traveler. Four different gates give access to these palaces and inside we see the life that must lead the rulers of the city until recently.

Some Weird photos also give us an idea of what must be the British presence. They are all alike: a group of Indians, with the Maharaja between them and, in the middle, sitting on a chair with an aspect of English classic movie, the British consul which was obviously the one who made the final decisions.

The great mansions of wealthy merchants built in the golden city are known as “havelis”. There are three in particular that should be visited for its beauty. These limestone buildings are preserved in all its splendor and gives us a good sampling of the wealth they reached the town at the time of the caravans.

Around the city there are several attractions for visitors. To reach them it is best to take a taxi, with which we can move around without problems. One of the most beautiful and relaxing is Lake Gadsisar. A few kilometers from Jaisalmer, was their water supply and around it built many temples and shrines. This lake has a curious history: it is said that the entrance to a beautiful ornate door, was built by a famous and wealthy prostitute. However, when he went to pay, the Maharaja ordered that were not done, because it seemed inappropriate to have to go under the porch paid by the court every time I wanted to enjoy the lake. The woman, however, I hope that the king was away and when that happened, ordered the construction of the door, adding a Krishna temple for the return of the agent did not topple. Apparently the ruse was effective, and today we can enjoy this entry, worthy of the natural environment.